How can just standing on the floor of a vehicle make you move the same speed as it?

(2012-02-03 15:25:10) 1. Posly Says: Ok so I was just on a train, I walked down several carts and there was this one where there were no walls or a roof, just a open cart. Anyways the train started moving and I started thinking, how does this work, the only contact I'm having with the train is with the floor? Like how can that much energy get transferred to you by just through your feet, why don't people slip when the train starts to move? I thought it was because of gravity pulling you down, but I really don't understand that either.2. tek1int Says: Gravity plus friction let the train pull you along with it. Gravity pulls downward on you to hold you onto the train, and the friction between your shoes and the train floor pulls you forward with the train. Gravity is a force, technically speaking, so is friction.

Were there friction but no gravity you would be pulled forward feet first just a little then torque feet first upwards into a spin upwards and away from the open cart, like a balloon.

Were there gravity but no friction, the train would slide forward under your shoes, leaving you behind: you would remain in the same spot relative to the train tracks.3. Bill Says: The train accelerates slowly so that the force isn't enough to make you fall down. Tag: How can just standing on the floor of a vehicle make you move the same speed as it?